Driving in Fog, Smoke and Dust: A Sydney Driver's Guide to Low-Visibility Conditions

Fog, bushfire smoke and dust storms can cut your view to metres in seconds. Learn how to adjust your speed, lights and following distance to stay safe on NSW roads.

Fog, bushfire smoke and dust storms are all low-visibility events, and each one changes how you should drive. On a clear day you might see hundreds of metres ahead; in thick fog or heavy smoke that can drop to 50 metres or less. The Road User Handbook is clear that you must drive at a speed that lets you stop within the distance you can see ahead. This guide explains how to apply that rule in practice across Western Sydney and New South Wales.

Before You Leave: Set Up for Low Visibility

A few minutes of preparation makes a real difference when visibility is poor. Do these checks before you turn the key.

• Clean your windscreen inside and out. Smoke and dust leave a fine film that smears badly when headlights hit it. A dedicated microfibre cloth and an extendable cleaning tool make this quick and streak-free.
• Check your wipers and washer fluid. Fog and smoke often come with moisture, and a dirty windscreen is far harder to see through.
• Test your headlights, tail lights and indicators. You need to be seen as much as you need to see.
• Know your fog light switch. Many cars have a rear fog light that is much brighter than a normal tail light. Use it only when visibility is seriously reduced, and switch it off when conditions improve so you do not dazzle other drivers.
• Check your tyre pressures and tread. Good contact with the road matters more when you may need to stop suddenly.

How to Drive Safely in Fog, Smoke and Dust

Once you are moving, the same core principles apply whether you are in fog, smoke or dust. The difference is how aggressively you apply them.

Slow down and increase your following distance

• Reduce your speed so you can stop within the distance you can see. If you can only see 50 metres ahead, you need to be able to pull up in 50 metres.
• Double or triple your normal following distance. In good conditions a two-second gap is a useful guide; in low visibility, aim for four seconds or more.
• Avoid sudden braking. Ease off the accelerator early and brake gently so drivers behind you have time to react.
• Use the left edge of the road or the centre line as a guide, but do not stare at it. Keep scanning ahead for brake lights and hazards.

Use your lights correctly

• Turn on your low-beam headlights. They make you visible to others and help you see the road surface.
• Do not use high beams in fog, smoke or dust. The light reflects off the particles and creates a bright wall that makes it harder to see.
• Use fog lights only when visibility is seriously reduced. Switch them off when conditions clear.
• Never drive with only parking lights on. They are not bright enough to be seen in poor visibility.

Watch for hazards that low visibility hides

• Pedestrians and cyclists are much harder to see in fog and smoke. Slow down near schools, bus stops and shopping strips.
• Kangaroos and other wildlife are more active around dawn and dusk, which is also when fog is most common.
• Smoke from a bushfire can reduce visibility and affect your breathing. If you have a respiratory condition, avoid driving in heavy smoke if you can.
• Dust storms can arrive quickly and may be accompanied by strong wind gusts. Keep both hands on the wheel and be ready for sudden changes.

What to Do If You Must Pull Over

Sometimes the safest choice is to stop driving until conditions improve. If you pull over, do it properly.

• Move as far off the road as you safely can. Use a rest area, service station or side street if one is available.
• Turn on your hazard lights so other drivers can see you.
• Stay in your car with your seatbelt on if you are on the shoulder of a busy road. If you have to get out, exit on the side away from traffic.
• Wait until visibility improves before rejoining the road. Do not rush back into fog or smoke.

Key Takeaways

Low-visibility driving is about managing risk, not bravado. Slow down, increase your following distance, use low-beam headlights, and pull over if you cannot see. Keep your windscreen clean, know your fog light switch, and carry a few basic items in case you need to wait out the worst of the fog, smoke or dust. Practise these habits with your supervising driver so they become second nature before you face them on your own.